Bill Text: HI HCR156 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 156 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: United States-Israel Economic Strategic Partnership

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Referred to VMI, EDB, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HCR156 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HCR156-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	156
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Commending the United States and the nation of ISRAEL for their commitment to democracy, human rights, and the strengthening of their relationship through the United States-Israel economic strategic partnership.

WHEREAS, the United States and Israel have built a strong long standing relationship since May 14, 1948, and both nations share common values including a commitment to democratic governance and support for individual liberty and human rights; and

WHEREAS, the Untied States and Israel have benefitted from a partnership that stimulates business, generates economic development, creates jobs and increases investment between the two democracies; and

WHEREAS, the United States is Israel's largest trading partner, and in 2009, United States goods exported to Israel amounted to $9,300,000,000 and United States imports from Israel were $18,300,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the 1985 United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement, the United States' first- and Israel's second-ever bilateral trade agreement, has promoted mutual economic development along with trade expansion and cooperation; and

WHEREAS, the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement has led to an almost ten-fold increase in bilateral trade in goods since its inception; and

WHEREAS, according to the Embassy of Israel's Commercial Trade Mission in the United States, between 2000 and 2009, United States' direct investment in Israel totaled $77,000,000,000 and Israel's direct investment in the United States during the same period totaled $51,300,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the alliance with Israel serves national security interests due to Israel's shared democratic values, geostrategic location, first-rate intelligence apparatus, and military strength and this strategic partnership is fortified by expanding the military and intelligence coordination network between the United States and Israel; and

WHEREAS, strategic partnership also includes Israel's contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through its status as a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Mediterranean Dialogue, in which Israel has greatly contributed to regional stability and has demonstrated an active commitment to the alliance's regional outreach and cooperation; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the strong cultural, economic, and strategic bonds that exist between the nation of Israel and the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the late United States Senator Daniel Inouye described Israel as "one country [that] stands out as a foundation of stability and a pillar of democracy"; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature commends the strategic partnership between the United States and the nation of Israel and their mutual commitment to democracy and human rights, and encourages the continuing strong relationship between Israel, the United States, and Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the Governor of Hawaii to embark on a trade mission to Israel to experience firsthand the enhanced opportunities for economic cooperation and job growth resulting from the relationship between the nation of Israel and the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Israel, Israel's Ambassador to the United States, the United States Ambassador to Israel, the United States Trade Representative Ambassador, the United States Secretary of Defense, the Israeli Minister of Defense, the United States Secretary of State, the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Governor of Hawaii.